Weirdest things ever

[pilly]

It just baffled me.... I had just replaced the spark plugs and leads and took it for a quick drive. Being summer it is quite hot and i put the fan on (Interior fan that is). I started off and changed to second and the fan cut out, changed to third came back on , fourth it cut out.
every time its put into 2nd or 4th it cuts out. Im thinking its a short somewhere, but i have no idea where to look.
i don't expect many but any ideas?
Thanks

[Peter V.]

If you want to relate this to the shifting then there are only two wires which can give this problem maybe. Through the hole where the gearstick is there are going two wires towards a switch on the gearbox. This switch is for the reverselights. I can imagine that those are damaged then. Maybe you had a repair recently on the clutch or gearbox?

[pilly]

Well now that you've said that, i absolutely forgot... i bought a new reverse switch as the old one was knackered and i tried putting it in however it never seemed to engage properly. (if i put it in to far they stayed on... out too far other gears engaged it) That was a while ago so ill have a look at that, but while im on here is there something you have to do to get the switch to engage? is there a a specific distance the switch has to be put in?
Thanks

[Peter V.]

From what i know it is just an electrical switch which you turn in the gearbox until it is thightend. My gearbox has the switch on top of it and you just screw it off and the new one in. That's it.

[Jeroen]

Well there are some issues with new reverse switches. I fitted a new one when I did my 5 speed conversion and it doesn't engage grrrr. Guess you have the same prob, no specific distance required you should just tighten it otherwise it will cause leaks. Think we both need to switch to the old ones but I think Peter is right suggesting the wiring might cause a short circuit. They should be on different fuses but if anything was ever rerouted or the fuse is too big it might cause all sorts of problems. Not something to leave like this for long!

[pilly]

Looked into it..... it was a loose contact on the fan switch, i want to know if there's anything i can do about the reverse switch cause it won't pass a roadworthy without it will it?

[murran]

revrese lights arnt part of the uk mot test. dunno about aus.?